The 1896 recording was repatriated to the Oglala Sioux Tribe at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.

BHKN photo

October 11, 2016

1896 Lakota Song Recording Repatriated to Oglala Sioux Tribe

Jane Chu, Chairman for the National Endowment for the Arts, returned a recording of an 1896 Lakota song to the Oglala Sioux Tribe at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. KOTA TV News reports that the recording of the song is thought to be the oldest known item of its kind.

Oglala Sioux Tribal President John Yellow Bird Steele accepted the recordings on behalf of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. He mentioned that new lyrics would be added to the old melodies of the recordings. President Steele also encouraged other sectors of the U.S. government to repatriate items of cultural significance to tribes.